Inflatable gripping or support device

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a tool is provided for gripping an object while in another embodiment, the tool is provided for supporting or tuning a person or object resting on a bed or other support. The tool is comprised of a hollow body which can be deformed under a pressure-loaded condition into a concavely curved main surface with an opposite convexly curved back surface. The hollow body has a plurality of parallel chambers on opposite sides of a housing which is transversed to the chambers so as to receive a pressurized medium via the housing. When pressure medium is applied to the chamber, the chamber deforms from a rectilinear condition into a curved condition.

The present invention relates to a tool, driven by pneumatic orhydraulic pressure medium and made of soft, non-elastic, flexiblecomposite material, for example reinforced plastic or reinforced rubber,for gripping, holding, clamping, turning or similar actuation of aperson or object, comprising a hollow body which in a pneumatically orhydraulically loaded condition is adapted to form a concavely curvedmain surface and an opposite convexly curved back surface.

With the present invention the particular aim is to handle elongate,sensitive objects, such as offshore pipe sections made of compositematerials, that is to say pipe conduits or pipe sections which arecoated with an externally protective coating. However, application ofthe solution can also be considered for other types of arbitraryobjects, but preferably for elongate objects.

The tool of the invention will also be able to be applied with advantagewithin the technology of space travel, where the objects are to be movedin a more or less weightless condition. For example the tool may be usedfor the launching or fetching in of satellites from or into space ships.

Furthermore, an aim is to apply the solution in connection with thehandling of more or less inactive persons and especially persons withhandicaps and generally patients during hospital treatment and otherforms of care, where it is appropriate to lift, turn or handle theperson in another way in an especially gentle manner.

From NO patent 166 023 corresponding to European Patent 0479778 and, inpart, to U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,957 a gripping or holding means is known,which is for example in the form of a so-called "robot hand" with two ormore "robot fingers". This gripping means has a cover for each grippingor holding part being made with a shape having a bent or curved grippingposition, so that in a starting position, the gripping or holding partis adapted to assume such a bent or curved gripping position. The forcefrom a pressure medium can then be mainly used for the clamping functionitself. In the known construction, the cover is longitudinally dividedinto a first cover chamber on the back side of the cover and a secondcover chamber on the engagement side of the cover. By alternatelyplacing the first and the second cover chamber in connection with thesource of pressure medium, and the source of pressure reliefrespectively, the cover can be pressure activated in an active bent orcurved starting position and pressure activated in the oppositedirection to an inactive, non-bent or non-curved position. In otherwords in a starting position, with a naturally bent or curved cover, thepressure force of the pressure medium can be mainly utilised in thefirst cover chamber to exert a clamping force in the clamping engagementposition, while correspondingly by pressure loading of the second coverchamber and simultaneously pressure relieving the first cover chamber,the cover can be forcibly adjusted into a positive open position. Acorresponding effect can if desired be employed in the presentinvention, without being based on such a mode of operation.

Further a similar solution is known from NO 163 518, where a pressuremedium-operated means is readjustable from an outstretched to acompressed condition on actuation of a local region of the means. Thisis achieved in that a first region is provided with locally defined,internal pocket formations connected to an associated pressure mediumconduit and a second region without such pocket formations. On inflatingthe region with pocket formations, a breadthways and/or lengthwisecompression of the means or an equivalent linear force in the means canbe achieved. In practice, several such mutually cooperating pocketformations in a row can be utilised. An effect as the means of NO 163518 achieves can be utilised in connection with the present invention,without being based on such a solution and such an effect.

An additional effect, which is achieved according to the two knownconstructions and which can be utilised according to the invention, isthat a directionally determined bending or curving of the means can beensured, based on the established design of the means which isdetermined by the shape of the means in the bent or curved position.According to the present invention, the aim is a particular effect byallowing individual chambers of the cover to support each other sidewaysin a clamping engagement position, in order to form thereby a more orless continuous, relatively large back surface in the cover and anequivalent, relatively large main surface or engagement surface in thecover. With this the aim particularly is to be able to exert clampingforces, for example relatively large clamping forces, in a uniformlydistributed manner over relatively large surface areas with localadjustment according to local irregularities in the object which is tobe handled, in order thereby to be able to handle relatively largeobjects in a gentle, but at the same time controlled and reliablemanner. Simultaneously with this, one can ensure by simple means thatthe cover automatically assumes a bent or curved condition or bends orcurves in the intended directionally determined manner. In other words,the aim is that individual chambers mutually support each other so thatthese collectively bend or curve in the intended directionallydetermined manner.

Generally, the aim is a novel solution for many different fields of usein connection with the handling of objects or persons relative to abase. When there is a discussion about objects in the present instance,the specific (but not exclusive) discussion is about sensitive objects,which ought to the treated with caution in order to prevent theoccurrence of damage to the object. When there is discussion aboutpersons in the present instance, it is first and foremost discussionabout patients, who must be treated with corresponding caution. Thesolution according to the invention can be used for example inconnection with various lifting operations, such as on moving objects orpersons from position to position, including gripping, clamping andholding in a first position, lifting or another movement to a newposition and subsequent releasing in the new position. The solution canalso be used for less extensive movements, for example for turning of abed-ridden patient on an associated couch, such as turning of patientsin order to prevent bed sores. In such a case, it can be appropriate toactivate only portions of the tool, for example in order to turn aperson in a direction towards the left, and later to activate otherportions of the tool in order to turn the person to the right back tothe starting position, or in order to turn the person further towardsthe right away from the starting position.

The tool of the invention is generally designed for use in connectionwith gripping, clamping and holding operations plus lifting operationsas robot tools, for handling of relatively light and small objects, butespecially for objects having relatively large dimensions and relativelylarge weight.

With the present invention, the aim is first and foremost a tool whichcan handle certain types of sensitive objects, such as pipe sections,which are coated with externally protective coatings, satellites orother objects, which are handled in space, or persons, which must betreated in an especially gentle manner, such as nursing patients who areto be turned on a bed base.

The present invention is published on Mar. 3, 1994 in NO-B-175 808 whichwas filed on Jul. 12, 1992.

Briefly, the invention provides a tool which is characterized in havinga hollow body which consists of at least four and preferably a series ofindividual chambers mutually connected sideways, which are connected toeach other in pairs via an intermediate, chamber-defining partition, theone surface of the individual chambers in common constituting the mainsurface of the hollow body, while the opposite other surface of theindividual chambers constitutes the back surface of the hollow body.

By the solution according to the invention a clamping and holding can beachieved, for example by simultaneously bending or curving the hollowbody in a controlled manner by way of simple means, the individualchambers mutually and in cooperation with the back surface of the hollowbody, being able to ensure an equivalent curvature of the individualchambers, with simultaneous mutual support between individual chambers.More specifically by hollow bodies, which are elongated in a directionacross the plane of curvature of the hollow body, a hollow body can beobtained which according to the conditions is relatively elasticallyyielding and softly gripping, but at the same time effectively clampingwith sufficient force. This involves the hollow body being able to beadapted locally with a somewhat different degree of curvature relativeto the different adjacent regions of the object which is to be handled,reckoned in a direction across the plane of curvature of the hollowbody. The effect obtained can be utilised for a number of differentpurposes, which the tool according to the invention finds applicationfor, such as will be described in more detail in the followingdescription.

In a first aspect of the present invention this is characterised in thatindividual chambers of the hollow body extend longitudinally reckoned inthe plane of curvature of the hollow body, that the back surfacereckoned in the plane of curvature of the hollow body has a largerlongitudinal dimension than the main surface, and that individualchambers of the hollow body are mutually separated in pairs via theintermediate partition in the form of a partition wall which is arrangedin the plane of curvature of the hollow body. A cover is hereby obtainedwith an especially simple form, which is easy to handle in practicaluse, for the handling of sensitive objects as well as for the handlingof sensitive persons.

It is preferred that the hollow body is provided with a centrallyarranged fastening portion or suspension portion, said portion beingcombined with a pressure medium intake to and outlet from the hollowbody, to form two opposite hollow body portions curvable towards eachother. This solution can be employed with advantage both in the liftingand turning of an object or a person. In connection with liftingoperations, the tool is characterised in that the suspension portion isin the form of a rigid, hollow housing member, to which there isfastened, support chain or similar support means for lifting andlowering of the tool and hose connections for the supply of pressuremedium to and for the return of pressure medium or return medium fromthe housing member and internal duct connections to the respectivehollow body portions, one of the hollow body portions being respectivelyfastened to the housing member on mutually opposite sides of same.

It is preferred that the tool is equipped with a prestressingarrangement in the form of a spring arrangement, which from active toinactive position, that is to say on pressure relief of the tool,readjusts the tool from a compressed gripping position to an opened moreor less spread position. For example, one can consider lengths of springsteel which are inserted between two layers of reinforced cloth materialin the main surface (gripping surface) of the individual chambers. Inpractice, the spring can be designed so that it only exerts sufficientforce to open the tool, so that in a more or less pressure-relievedcondition, the tool can be guided outwardly from engagement with orinwardly into engagement with the object which is to be handled by thetool. In another aspect of the invention for use for example in thehandling of persons on a bed rest, the tool is characterised in that thefastening portion is in the form of two mutually parallel, hollowhousing members each with a hose connection for the separate supply ofpressure medium to and for the separate return of pressure medium orreturn medium from the housing member and each with its or with theirinternal duct connections to an associated hollow body portion, one ofthe hollow body portions being respectively fastened to its housingmember on respective opposite sides of the same.

By means of the two hollow body portions, there is hereby thepossibility to effect one after the other mutually different movementsor equivalent movements at different moments.

In connection with the handling of a person on a base, such as a bedrest, the tool is characterised in that the hollow body is supported onits under side, via rigid, preferably pin-shaped support means on acarrier plate, at a level above the upper side of the carrier plate.

A controlled bending or curving of the tool can hereby obtained.

It is preferred that the hollow body is provided with a row ofindividual chambers, which extend across the plane of curvature of thehollow body, and that the hollow body or each hollow body portionbetween the individual chambers is provided with a common internal ductsystem running in the plane of curvature of the hollow body. The effectobtained is based on the corresponding stretching effect which isobtained according to NO patent 163 518, only with the difference thatthe stretching effect is tied to the associated carrier plate. Furtherfeatures of the present invention will be evident from the followingdescription having regard to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows in a perspective representation a tool according to theinvention used in connection with the handling of an elongate object,which is illustrated in the form of a pipe piece which is to be lifted,and with the tool illustrated in position so as to be guided intoengagement with the pipe piece.

FIG. 2 shows the tool in a representation corresponding to FIG. 1 guidedinto place in clamping engagement with the pipe piece which is to belifted.

FIG. 3 shows in a perspective representation a section of the tool asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with certain portions broken away for thesake of simplicity.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a tool having one hollow bodyportion in a bent active position in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 4 with twohollow body portions in bent active positions.

FIG. 6 shows in perspective a tool according to the invention used inconnection with a bed rest, where a person is indicated in the usualback rest position and where the tool is illustrated in the inactivecondition.

FIG. 7 shows the same as in FIG. 6, where the person is indicated in aside rest position and where one hollow body portion of the tool isillustrated in an inactive condition.

FIGS. 8-11 show in a plan representation and in an end representationrespectively a third embodiment of the tool used in connection with abed rest as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIGS. 12-14 show a fourth embodiment of the invention in the form of aturning mattress, illustrated in cross-section and illustrated in aninactive condition in FIG. 12, in a partially activated condition inFIG. 13 and also in a fully activated condition in FIG. 14.

In FIG. 1 a pipe piece 10 is shown of composite material for use inoffshore activity, the pipe piece 10 being externally clad with aprotective layer, which is sensitive to different types of mechanicalinfluences and especially to locally high point loadings. Further, thereis shown a tool 11 according to the invention in an inactive position,ready for engagement with the pipe piece 10, which rests on a base 12via support blocks 13.

The tool 11, which is used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, and a tool11', which is used in the embodiment of FIGS. 4-5, are based on the toolbeing designed at the starting point with a hooked, unbraced or slightlybraced shape and on use is placed under pressure, so that a movementoccurs which stretches the tool to a braced, hooked position. Saidmovement can be achieved in a corresponding manner as indicated in NOpatent 166 023.

The tool 11 is provided with a rigid, central carrier yoke 14, to whichare fastened support rings 15 with associated support straps 16,17. Thesupport straps are connected via a common fastening ring 18 to ahoisting line 19. In the construction illustrated, the support straps16,17 and the hoisting line 19 are made of chain, but alternatively canbe made of wire or another suitable strap material. In addition thecarrier yoke 14 is provided with a fastening nipple 20 for rapidcoupling of a hose 22 for the supply of pressure fluid or compressed airto an internal distribution chamber 23 (see FIG. 3), or for removingreturn fluid or return air from the distribution chamber 23.

The carrier yoke 14 forms part of a permanent connection to a hollowbody 24, which with hollow body portions 24a and 24b projects laterallyoutwards from the carrier yoke 14 in mutually opposite directions fromthe centrally arranged carrier yoke 14 on its two mutually opposite longside surfaces. In the illustrated embodiment, the hollow body 24 is madeof soft, non-elastic, but flexible composite material, such asreinforced plastic or reinforced rubber.

More specifically, the hollow body 24 comprises, as is shown in FIG. 3,a centrally arranged housing member 23a which defines the distributionchamber 23. This housing member 23a can be made of the same material asthe remainder of the hollow body, but alternatively can be made of anarbitrary rigid material. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the housing member23a also forms part of the carrier yoke 14, since it is directlyfastened to the carrier yoke 14, which in a practical construction canalso form the weight-forming portion of the tool, independently of theweight of the hollow body. In practice, the carrier yoke 14 can totallyor partially surround the hollow body 24 in the vicinity of its housingmember 23a. As is shown in part in FIG. 3, the housing member 23 isprovided with a series of port openings 25 in the longitudinal directionof the housing member 23a, that is to say with a port opening for eachindividual chamber or part chamber as illustrated at 26 in the hollowbody portion 24a and at 27 in the hollow body portion 24b. At 26a and27a there is shown a partition wall between a pair of individualchambers 26 and 27. By means of a common source of pressure medium,individual chambers 26 and individual chambers 27 can be pressure loadedvia the common distribution chamber 23 in the housing member 23a with acommon medium pressure and an equivalent uniformly distributed surfacepressure ensured against the object (or the person) to be handled.

The individual chambers 26, 27 are, as shown, in parallel on each sideof the housing member 23.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the hollow body 24 is in an inactivepressure-relieved position with the body portions 24a, 24b disposed in adownwardly directed and suspended manner so as to be free to move indirections towards and away from each other.

Referring to FIG. 2, the hollow body 24 is illustrated in apressure-activated gripping and holding position. In this position, thedepending hollow body portions 24a, 24b are bent by means of a pressuremedium to clamp onto a pipe piece 10. In this way, the pipe piece 10 isheld in a firm pressurized grip between the bent body portions 24a, 24b.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, rib-shaped prestressing means28 are shown which are arranged in the gripping surface of the hollowbody 24. More specifically, steel leaf springs 28 are employed which areinserted between two layers of cloth in the gripping surface of thehollow body.

By means of the leaf springs 28, the hollow body can be opened from thehooked condition illustrated in the FIG. 3 to a more spread planarcondition upon the release of pressure.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, both the left hand side hollow body portion24a and the right hand side hollow body portion 24b are bent in relationto an intermediate common carrier yoke 14 by the pressure of thepressure medium in the body portions 24a, 24b against the bias of theleaf springs 28 located near the upper surface in the hollow bodyportions 24a, 24b.

Each leaf spring 28 is initially shaped to a flatted shape toaccommodate the starting point of the tool 11 as illustrated in FIG. 1and is moved towards a curved shape upon the introduction of pressurizedmedium into the chambers 26, 27. Upon release of the pressure from thepressure medium, each spring 28 biases the respective chamber 26, 27back to the flattened shape.

In FIG. 2 a tool is shown according to the invention in thepressure-loaded condition, after the hollow body 24 is lowered in placearound the pipe piece, whereby the tool is made to surround and firmlyclamp the pipe piece between the hollow body parts 24a and 24b in theirfinally inflated (dilated) condition.

A tool 11', as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, has a hollow body 24' whichis constructed to substantially correspond to the hollow body of FIG. 3,with the only difference that instead of one distribution chamber 23between the hollow body portions 24a and 24b, two separate distributionchambers 23' are employed. More specifically, a distribution chamber isemployed for each hollow body portion 24a', 24b'. The distributionchambers 23' are provided with their respective nipple 20' for thecoupling of pressure medium hoses (not shown further). The twodistribution chambers 23' (see FIG. 4) are further provided with theirrespective sets of port openings 25' for each of their individualchambers 26' and 27'. The hollow body portions 24a' and 24b' can herebybe operated separately or jointly as required.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 the tool is used in a bed rest 30, where the bed itselfwith associated bed base is indicated in broken lines 31 and where thetool 11" is illustrated in full lines. The tool 11" in this casecomprises an under mattress in the form of a hollow body 24" togetherwith an easily exchangeable upper mattress 32 of foam material oranother suitable material. In the illustrated embodiment, the uppermattress 32 is fastened for easy release to the hollow body 24", but canif necessary be arranged on the under mattress without special fasteningmeans. In practical use, the under mattress and the upper mattress canseparately constitute an integral part of the tool 11", but in certaininstances the upper mattress can be omitted in the tool and only theunder mattress (the hollow body 24") used. Generally and for practicalreasons, it is an advantage on the other hand that the under mattress issecured to the base, so that the former can be moved in a controlled andreliable manner relative to the base. For example, in a longitudinalmiddle region the under mattress can be intermittently secured to thebase in a manner not shown further, for example directly to the bedbottom, by means of fastening straps or similar fastening means. In FIG.6 a person is shown in broken lines 33 in the usual back rest positionand arranged substantially in the middle of the bed rest 30. In thisposition, the hollow body 24" can be filled with pressure medium, forexample fluid, without excess pressure, so that the person 33 issupported by a fluid-filled under mattress or hollow body 24". In thiscondition, the hollow body 24" together with the upper mattress 32 canextend level or substantially level on the base.

In FIG. 7 the tool 11" is shown, comprising the hollow body 24", whichforms the upper mattress, in an activated condition, that is to say witha special pressure medium loading of the one (right) hollow body portion24b" illustrated, while the other (left) hollow body portion 24a"retains the inactive, planar extending position. There is hereby thepossibility to effect a turning of the person 33 from a back restposition, as shown in FIG. 6, to a side rest position as shown in FIG.7. In FIG. 7, the hollow body portion 24b", and thereby also theassociated portion of the upper mattress, is shown bent or curved to adifferent degree reckoned in the longitudinal direction of the bed rest.This is ensured in that by means of a common pressure medium, differentindividual chambers in the hollow body portion 24b" can be curved inrelation to the dimensions and weight of the person who is to be turned.There is hereby the possibility to be able to effect the turning with anequivalent uniformly distributed pressure over the whole longitudinaldimension of the person and thereby with a gentle load of the person onthe various body parts of the latter, at the same time as the hollowbody part 24b" is moved as a coherent unit.

In an equivalent manner the person 33 can be turned back from theposition illustrated in FIG. 7 to that illustrated in FIG. 6 byrelieving the excess pressure in the illustrated right hollow bodyportion 24b" of the hollow body 24". Further by activating theillustrated left hollow body portion, the person can be turned in anadditional direction towards the right to an opposite side rest to thatwhich is illustrated in FIG. 7.

In certain cases, both of the hollow body portions can be pressureloaded and pressure relieved in a continuous, simultaneous operation, byonly pressure relieving the one hollow body part, while at the same timeincreasing the pressure load in the other hollow body portion, therebyhaving the possibility of being able to hold the person 33 in acontrolled grip with both hollow body portions during the whole turningoperation.

It will also be possible to control the turning operation manually bycorresponding manual control of the supply of pressure medium and manualcontrol of the return flow of the pressure medium respectively. However,by way of for example time-controlled or with available automatic means,it will also be possible to effect turning of the person for set timesor with set time intervals without equipment for this purpose beingillustrated herein.

In FIGS. 8-11 there is shown an alternative construction of the tool 11"which is employed in the embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.Individual chambers 26" and 27" are shown which extend parallel to thelongitudinal direction of the bed rest. This solution is based onprinciples corresponding to those shown in NO patent 163 518, where alinear contraction can be translated into a curving or pivotjoint-movement. In this embodiment, the hollow body 24" is made up oflayers of cloth which are welded together with strip-formed portions,which form an annular peripheral edge 35 and a series of relativelynarrow rib-formed partition walls 36 and a middle relatively broadpartition wall 37. By means of the peripheral edge 35 and the partitionwalls 36,37 a series of individual chambers 26" and 27" is defined in acommon hollow body portion 24a" and 24b", the hollow body 24" beingdivided by way of the central partition wall 37 into the two hollow bodyportions 24a" and 24b". A first hollow body portion 24a" with associatedindividual chambers 26" is supplied with pressure medium via a firstconduit 38 (or pressure medium is removed via the conduit 38), while asecond hollow body portion 24b" with associated individual chambers 27"is supplied with pressure medium via a second conduit 39 (or pressuremedium is removed via the conduit 39), controlled by a remotelycontrolled control valve not shown further from a suitable pressuremedium reservoir (not shown). At 38a and 39a there are shown transversepassages between the individual chambers 26" and between the individualchambers 27" respectively.

The tool 11" is provided lowermost with a flexible plate 40. There areshown rows of vertical support pins 41 which are rigidly connected tothe plate 40 and which are rigidly connected to the hollow body 24" atthe top in the illustrated strip-formed portions 35, 36, 37. In practicethe hollow body 24" is mounted on top of the support pins 41 in freelysuspended manner at a fixed distance above the top surface of the plate40. Alternatively instead of the pins, a series of rib-formed supportmeans (not shown) can be used, which extend parallel to the hollowspaces 26" and the hollow spaces 27" and more specifically can have adimension corresponding to the rib-formed partitions 36. If desired, therib-formed support means can extend continuously over the whole lengthdirection of the hollow body, a small opening being able to be made inthe rib-formed support means in order to ensure a place for thetransverse passages in each hollow body portion.

In addition, as is shown herein, the hollow body 24" can rest againstthe top of a mattress 42 of foam material which is inserted between theplate 40 and the hollow body 24". By means of the support pins 41, themembers 24", 40 and 42 can be effectively connected to each other into acoherent unit. By using rib-formed support means instead of theillustrated support pins, equivalent strips of such a mattress can beused in the respective intermediate spaces between each pair of supportribs instead of the coherent foam material mattress 42 illustrated. Ontop of this unit of the members 24", 40, 42, the afore-mentionedmattress can be arranged for example for easy release that is to say inan easily replaceable manner. Alternatively, instead of using an uppermattress, a sheet or another easily replaceable cover material can beused to prevent soiling of the hollow body during use.

In FIG. 9 an end representation of the tool 11" is shown in a planarspread starting position. In FIG. 10 the tool 11" is shown after theleft hollow body portion 24a" is activated by pressure fluid orcompressed air and in FIG. 11 the tool 11" is shown after both hollowbody portions 24a" and 24b" are correspondingly activated.

By the tool 11" according to FIG. 8-11 an intended bending of the plate40 can be guaranteed on equivalently compressing the hollow body 24" ina direction transversely of the longitudinal direction of the bed rest,the individual chambers of the hollow body being inflated and stretchedin the height direction, that is to say in a direction at right anglesto the main plane of the object as shown in FIG. 8, while beingcompressed at the same time in the breadth direction, that is to say ina direction transversely of the longitudinal direction of the bed rest.This involves the current hollow body portion (for example the hollowbody portion 24a" in FIG. 9) being compressed together (i.e.longitudinally shrunk) sideways between the pins 41 on the plate 40pulling the pins 41 toward each other and thereby providing for anequivalent bending or curving of the plate 40 and the associated hollowbody portion 24a". Correspondingly, the plate 40 and the remaininghollow body portion 24b" can be bent to the position which isillustrated in FIG. 10.

By commencing the turning operations of the person 33 in the position ofthe hollow body 24" as shown in FIG. 10 (with the person 33 in a backrest position), the person can be turned in controlled fashionalternately to the left and the right on alternately relieving thepressure in the left and right hollow body portions, respectively, whilethe remaining hollow body portion assumes a curved condition.

Even if examples are not illustrated herein, the tool 11 or 11', whichis employed in connection with the handling of an object, can withcertain modifications be adapted for use in connection with a bed rest,for the handling of a person. Correspondingly the tool 11", which isemployed in connection with a person, can with certain modifications beadapted for use in connection with the handling of as object (such aspipe sections or similar elongate objects) without concrete embodimentsbeing given for this herein.

In FIGS. 12-14 a mattress 24"' is shown, correspondingly as shown inFIGS. 8-11, arranged at a level above a bed rest 30 as illustrated inFIGS. 6-7. Centrally beneath the mattress 24"' the latter is providedwith a longitudinal pivot shaft 50, which is pivotally mounted in two ormore mutually separated pivot bearings 51 (only one pivot bearing isshown in the drawings), which rest against the bed rest and support themattress at a fixed level above the bed rest. At opposite side edges,the mattress is supported on the top of longitudinal support beams 52,53which rest on the bed rest. Between the pivot shaft 50 and a respectiveone of the support beams 52,53, relatively tightly up to the pivotshaft, an inflatable actuating means 54 and 55, respectively, isfastened in. In the active condition of the mattress, as shown in FIG.12, the actuating means 54,55 are illustrated in a preliminary supportposition, that is to say in mutually corresponding, moderately inflatedcondition, without exerting any lifting effect.

In FIG. 13 the mattress is shown in a condition, where only the one halfof the mattress is activated and thereby lifted upwards to a level abovethe support beam 52 and bent over to a curved contour. However, themattress has continued effective support in the support beam 53, in thepivot bearings 51 and in the actuating means 54,55. A person who restson the mattress can thereby be turned to a certain degree from back rest(FIG. 12) to partial side rest (FIG. 13).

In FIG. 14 the mattress is shown in a fully activated condition, that isto say with side edge portions of the mattress itself lifted upwards andwith two respective halves of the mattress bent to a curved contour. Aperson, who rests on the mattress in the position illustrated in FIG.14, can thereby be secured in a controlled manner along opposite sidesof the person by means of the mattress itself, with the person supportedmore or less in a back rest position, with effective support on the backside and along both sides of the person.

This support can be maintained while the mattress (and the person) istilted forwards and backwards about the longitudinal axis, that is tosay on swinging the mattress about the pivot shaft 50. The swinging ofthe mattress, in a cradle movement forwards and backwards, occurs by acontrolled regulation of the pressure and by alternatelypressure-relieving and pressure-loading the actuating means. In FIG. 14the actuating means 54 is shown in a fully pressure-relieved conditionand the other actuating means 55 is equivalently shown in the fullyinflated condition.

Instead of the illustrated inflating means 54,55, which exert a pushingforce in the one direction of movement there can be employeddouble-acting pushing means or a single double-acting pushing means. Forexample, a pushing means can be used in the form of a hydraulic orpneumatically driven pressure medium cylinder or an electrically drivenpushing means.

I claim:
 1. A tool comprisingan elongated housing member defining adistribution chamber for receiving a pressure medium and having aplurality of port openings communicating with said chamber, a firsthollow body portion of non-elastic flexible material on one side of saidhousing member, said hollow body portion having a plurality of parallelpartition walls extending transversely of said housing member to definea plurality of parallel chambers in said hollow body portion, each saidchamber in said hollow body portion being in communication with arespective port opening in said housing member to receive pressuremedium therefrom; a second hollow body portion of non-elastic flexiblematerial on an opposite side of said housing member relative to saidfirst hollow body portion, said second hollow body portion having aplurality of parallel partition walls extending transversely of saidhousing member to define a plurality of parallel chambers in said secondhollow body portion, each said chamber in said second hollow bodyportion being in communication with a respective port opening in saidhousing member to receive pressure medium therefrom; each said hollowbody portion being responsive to an increase in pressure on a pressuremedium therein to deform from an inactive condition with said bodyportions spread apart from each other to an active condition with saidbody portions bent towards each other; and a plurality of leaf springs,each leaf spring being disposed in a respective chamber of a respectivehollow body portion for biasing said respective hollow body portion fromsaid active condition towards said inactive condition in response to adecrease in pressure in said chambers of said hollow body portions.
 2. Atool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hollow body portions aredisposed in parallel spaced apart relation in said inactive condition toreceive an object therebetween whereby said hollow body portions gripthe object therebetween in said active condition thereof.
 3. A tool asset forth in claim 1 wherein said leaf springs are disposed on a side ofeach respective hollow body portion facing the opposite hollow bodyportion.
 4. A tool as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises ayoke secured to said housing member and support rings secured to saidyoke for lifting of said housing member and said hollow body portions.5. A tool comprisinga first elongate housing member defining a firstdistribution chamber for receiving a pressure medium and having aplurality of port openings communicating with said chamber; a firsthollow body portion of non-elastic flexible material on one side of saidhousing member, said hollow body portion having a plurality of parallelpartition walls extending transversely of said housing member to definea plurality of parallel chambers in said hollow body portion, each saidchamber in said hollow body portion being in communication with arespective port opening in said housing member to receive pressuremedium therefrom; a second elongated housing member adjacent andparallel to said first housing member, said second housing memberdefining a second distribution chamber for receiving a pressure mediumand having a plurality of port openings communicating with said secondchamber; a second hollow body portion of non-elastic flexible materialon one side of said second housing member, said second hollow bodyportion having a plurality of parallel partition walls extendingtransversely of said second housing member to define a plurality ofparallel chambers in said second hollow body member, each said chamberin said second hollow body portion being in communication with arespective port opening in said second housing member to receivepressure medium therefrom; each said hollow body portion beingresponsive to an increase in pressure on a pressure medium therein todeform from an inactive position with said body portions disposed inco-planar relation to an active condition with said body portions bentrelative to each other; and a plurality of leaf springs, each leafspring being disposed in a respective chamber of a respective hollowbody portion for biasing said respective hollow body portion from saidactive condition towards said inactive condition in response to adecrease in pressure in said chambers of said respective hollow bodyportion.
 6. A tool as set forth in claim 5 which further comprises anupper mattress secured to and over said hollow body portions forreceiving a bed-ridden patient thereon.
 7. A tool as set forth in claim5 wherein said first housing member has a nipple communicating with saidfirst distribution chamber for coupling to a pressure medium hose andsaid second housing member has a nipple communicating with said seconddistribution chamber for coupling to a pressure medium hose.
 8. A toolcomprisinga bendable plate; a plurality of pins rigidly secured to saidplate in upstanding manner; a planar body connected to said pins atpoints in spaced relation to said plate, said body including a pair oflayers secured together about the periphery thereof, said layers havinga plurality of partition walls defining a plurality of parallel chambersbetween said layers for receiving a pressure medium; and a conduitcommunicating with said chambers to selectively deliver a pressuremedium thereto for expanding said chambers in a direction perpendicularto said plate while shrinking said chambers in a direction parallel tosaid plate and transverse to said chambers to effect movement of saidpoints of said pins towards each other with a corresponding bending ofsaid plate transversely of said chambers.
 9. A tool as set forth inclaim 8 which further comprises a first mattress of foam materialbetween said plate and said body.
 10. A tool as set forth in claim 9which further comprises a second mattress of foam material secured tosaid body on a side opposite said first mattress.
 11. A mattresscomprisinga hollow body having a plurality of partitions defining atleast four longitudinally extending chambers for receiving a pressurizedmedium, each said chamber having an upper surface defining a part of acontinuous upper supporting surface of said body and a lower surfacedefining a part of a continuous lower back surface of said body; eachsaid partition being disposed between a respective pair of chambers andextending between said upper supporting surface and said lower backsurface; each said partition having at least one passage communicatingsaid respective pair of chambers with each other to convey a pressurizedmedium therebetween; and a bendable plate secured to one side of saidbody in facing relation to said lower back surface whereby uponexpansion of said chambers in response to a pressurized medium thereinsaid plate is bent transversely of said longitudinally extendingchambers to deform said lower back surface in a convex manner and todeform said upper supporting surface in a concave manner.
 12. A mattressas set forth in claim 11 wherein each chamber is of squarecross-section.
 13. A mattress as set forth in claim 11 which furthercomprises a first conduit connected to one of said chambers on one sideof a centrally disposed one of said partitions for supplying apressurized medium thereto and a second conduit connected to one of saidchambers on an opposite side of said centrally disposed partition forsupplying a pressurized medium thereto.
 14. A mattress as set forth inclaim 11 which further comprises a plurality of pins secured to andbetween said plate and said hollow body.
 15. A mattress as set forth inclaim 11 which further comprises at least one pivot bearing pivotallymounting said plate thereon centrally of said hollow body for pivotingrelative to a bed rest.
 16. A mattress as set forth in claim 15 whichfurther comprises a pair of inflatable actuating means, each actuatingmeans being disposed on an opposite side of said pivot bearing from theother of said actuating means for disposition between a bed rest andsaid plate for tilting of said plate in response to inflation of one ofsaid actuating means.
 17. A bed rest comprisinga hollow body having afirst plurality of partitions defining at least four longitudinallyextending chambers for receiving a pressurized medium, each said chamberhaving an upper surface defining a part of a continuous upper supportingsurface of said body and a lower surface defining a part of a continuouslower back surface of said body; each said partition being disposedbetween a respective pair of chambers and extending between said uppersupporting surface and said lower back surface; a housing member forreceiving a pressurized medium, said housing member being disposedtransversely of said chambers and having port openings communicating incommon with said chambers to convey pressurized medium thereto; and aplurality of leaf springs, each spring being disposed in a respectiveone of said chambers adjacent said upper surface thereof to shape saidrespective chamber into a flattened shape whereby upon expansion of saidchambers in response to a pressurized medium therein said springs arebent longitudinally of said chambers to deform said back surface in aconvex manner and to deform said upper surface in a concave manner. 18.A bed rest as set forth in claim 17 which further comprises a secondplurality of partitions extending from an opposite side of said housingmember relative to said first plurality of partitions, said secondplurality of partitions defining longitudinally extending chambers incommunication with said housing member to receive a pressurized mediumtherefrom.
 19. A bed rest as set forth in claim 18 which furthercomprises a leaf spring in each respective chamber defined by saidsecond plurality of partitions.
 20. A bed rest as set forth in claim 18which further comprises a yoke secured to said housing member forlifting and lowering of said housing member and a nipple on said yokefor coupling to a hose to convey a pressurized medium to said housingmember.
 21. A bed rest as set forth in claim 17 which further comprisesa second housing member for receiving a pressurized medium, a pluralityof partitions extending from said second housing member to definechambers for receiving a pressurized medium therefrom and a leaf springin each of said latter chambers.
 22. A bed rest as set forth in claim 17which further comprises at least one nipple on said housing member forcoupling to a hose for conveying a pressurized medium to said chambers.23. A bed rest as set forth in claim 17 which further comprises supportrings on said housing member for connection to a hoisting line.
 24. Amattress comprisinga hollow body having a plurality of partitionsdefining at least four parallel chambers for receiving a pressurizedmedium, each said chamber having an upper surface defining a part of acontinuous upper supporting surface of said body and a lower surfacedefining a part of a continuous lower back surface of said body withsaid continuous lower surface of said body being of greater longitudinalextent than said continuous upper surface of said body; each saidpartition being disposed between a respective pair of chambers andextending between said upper supporting surface and said lower backsurface; each said partition having at least one passage communicatingsaid respective pair of chambers with each other to convey a pressurizedmedium therebetween; and at least one port for conveying a pressurizedmedium into said chambers whereby upon expansion of said chambers inresponse to the pressurized medium therein said continuous lower surfacedeforms in a convex manner and said continuous upper surface deforms ina concave manner.
 25. A mattress as set forth in claim 24 which furthercomprises a housing member transverse to said chambers and having portscommunicating with said chambers to convey a pressure mediumtherebetween.
 26. A mattress as set forth in claim 24 wherein eachchamber has a square cross-section.